Waving indicators that learn “Zionism is a loss of life machine” and “the media buries the reality,” a bunch of pro-Palestinian protestors gathered on Primary Road in Park Metropolis on Saturday. Roughly 75 individuals turned out amid snowfall and temperatures within the 20s to precise their frustration with “media complicity in genocide” in opposition to the backdrop of the Sundance Movie Pageant. The organizers — which included Well being Care Employees for Palestine, Arabs in Utah, Armed Queers and Salt Lake Artists In opposition to Genocide — mentioned they don’t have any problem with the pageant per se however are hoping to “educate and inspire the movie business to do a greater job of exploring the complete humanity of Palestinian life somewhat than counting on cartoony characters and cliche plot strains.”
Dalia Salum, who was one of many featured audio system, talked about her members of the family who’ve been displaced by the Israeli authorities. However she took direct goal on the Fourth Property, who “perpetuate lies and unfold misinformation in regards to the actuality on the bottom” in Gaza.
“[The] media ought to maintain the values of accuracy, of independence, of impartiality, of humanity, of accountability. Why do you neglect to inform the reality?” Salum requested to applause whereas surrounded by protestors in entrance of Riverhorse on Primary. “Why do you twist and switch in order that we will see your puppet strings as conglomerations like AIPAC, just like the ADL, just like the JNF [Jewish Funders Network] pull your little puppet strings.”
Salum declined to be interviewed by Selection. “I don’t discuss to press,” she mentioned.
The occasion was not affiliated with Sundance, however the pageant tonight will host the world premiere of Cherien Dabis’ “All That’s Left of You,” a multi-generational drama that depicts a Palestinian teen who confronts Israeli troopers at a West Financial institution protest. In accordance with the Sundance web site, “His mom recounts the sequence of occasions that led him to that fateful second, beginning along with his grandfather’s pressured displacement.”
The Primary Road protest coincides with developments within the Center East. Earlier right this moment, Hamas launched 4 hostages they captured through the terror assault on Oct. 7, 2023. Their launch got here within the wake of a ceasefire cope with Israel brokered almost every week in the past.
Bundled-up demonstrators chanted slogans like “Israel is a terror state” and “from the river to the ocean” as pageant goers made their method to varied occasions going down on the indie movie mecca. Final 12 months, at the same demonstration, protestors labeled President Joe Biden “Genocide Joe” whereas carrying indicators that referred to him as a “butcher.” This 12 months, audio system continued to invoke “Genocide Joe” however gave scant point out of President Donald Trump.
Nonetheless, one passerby interrupted a speaker by yelling, “Thanks President Trump for releasing the hostages.” A number of protestors chuckled as the person continued strolling up Primary Road.
Mishandi Sarhan, a member of Salt Lake Artists In opposition to Genocide who additionally addressed the gang, later informed Selection that the group is extra taken with shining a light-weight on the media than Trump. “We haven’t talked about Trump particularly as a result of a lot of the protests across the nation proper now are specializing in Trump. She added: “We acknowledge that the federal government is just not the one factor that’s serving to genocide. Different protesters are focusing extra on the federal government. We actually need to carry consideration to the media particularly, as a result of the media is mostly complicit in terms of genocide. They don’t report it as a genocide. The media holds itself as like a beacon of fact, and that’s not the case.”
Sarhan mentioned the worst offenders are the New York Publish, the New York Instances and CNN.
“They use very passive language in terms of what number of Palestinians are lifeless,” she added. “They’ll say like, ‘Palestinians died in random occasions, however they received’t ever title the occasions that Israel is inflicting. Palestinians are dying due to Israel, and so they nonetheless shrink back from actively naming Israel.”
Mounted Park Metropolis police created a buffer between the protestors and a separate group of about 10, who waved Israeli and American flags. Doug Rosen, who held the Israeli flag, mentioned, “I’m very unhappy to see individuals who don’t assist America or Israel protesting in Park Metropolis, a really American place, and dividing and driving disunity in our nation.”
Forward of the protest, a pageant spokesperson informed Selection that “the security and safety of our pageant goers is all the time our chief concern.” The spokesperson added: “This peaceable protest is just not being placed on by the Sundance Institute or the pageant, and as with all occasions that aren’t affiliated with our pageant, we’re in fixed contact with native and state legislation enforcement, who’re dedicated to upholding an atmosphere that’s welcoming and safe for all our attendees. Our Security and Belonging Group stays devoted to fostering an atmosphere lower from the Sundance material inside pageant theaters and venues — a protected, inclusive and welcoming area for respectful dialogue, a passionate change of concepts and an inclusive celebration of our shared humanity.”
However Israeli thought chief and influencer Hen Mazzig took problem with the protest going down on the storied movie pageant.
“It jogs my memory of the protests surrounding the Nova Music Pageant bloodbath — not about amplifying humanity, however denying it to others,” he mentioned. “True storytelling calls for braveness and integrity. These protestors are providing neither, and in doing so, they betray not simply Sundance’s values, however the very goal of artwork itself.”